Tag Archives: men

Comments Off on The Reason Why Gastric Bypass Surgery Doesn’t Work
Posted by docakilah on July 21, 2011

by Lisa Tisdall

Gastric bypass surgeries are temporary physical fixes to a long term mental/emotional problem! If you think the surgery is a cure-all, think again. The crazy thing is some people are gaining more weight on purpose so they can qualify to even be considered for the surgery. How sick is that?

My aunt had gastric bypass surgery last year. She was so excited about the new body she was going to have after the surgery. She just couldn’t wait for her new life to begin. This was an answer to her prayers. So she thought!

Up until then, my aunt had not exercised a day in her life. She never followed a sensible eating plan, nor did she want to. By the looks of them, none of my family had ever sacrificed anything in the way of food. The doctors had filled her head with “results” that were only possible, not even probable. Her children were totally delusional about their mom’s weight and had danced around the issue so much that my aunt was in total denial. And guess what? True to form, she gained the weight back in eight months. Why?

The answer: you can’t build a house on a foundation made of sand. If you don’t deal with what is underneath the surface of your emotional behavior toward eating and exercise, you will go right back to the beginning, no matter what you take out or do to your body. Surgery or no surgery, there is no cure-all for being overweight. However, there is a solution — do you want to hear it? Here it is:

Maybe the surgery works in the short run. And maybe that will buy you some time and give you some inspiration to start exercising and eating better. However, surgery is not a means to an end! It doesn’t change your head; it only changes your stomach. If you do decide to have the surgery, please understand that without deep changes in your thought process and exercise habits, the gastric bypass surgery “results” will not stick.

Comments Off on Watermelon: A Natural Viagra
Posted by docakilah on June 24, 2011

A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine’s Day. That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido.

“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.

“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.”

Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said.

In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.

Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.

“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”

While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”

The benefits of watermelon don’t end there, he said. Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from our bodies.

Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, drs. Steve King and Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.

In addition to the research by Texas A&M, watermelon’s phyto-nutrients are being studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma.

As an added bonus, these studies have also shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king, Patil said. Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.

“Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes,” he said. “But now we know that it’s found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties.”

Lycopene, however, is fat-soluble, meaning that it needs certain fats in the blood for better absorption by the body, Patil said.

“Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach,” Patil said. “That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell.”

No studies have been conducted to determine the timing of the consumption of oily vegetables to improve lycopene absorption, he said.

“One final bit of advice for those Fourth of July watermelons you buy,” Patil said. “They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy. It is suggested that you would have to eat 1560g of water melon as a starting dose to see “performance increases”

.

Akilah M. El, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor and board-certified Master Herbalist with a private practice in Atlanta Georgia and Berlin Germany. Join Dr Akilah El on Facebook and Twitter

Comments Off on Men Health – Holistic Remedies For Healthy Prostate
Posted by docakilah on February 12, 2011

The prostate is a male gland about the size of a walnut that is located just above the bladder. The gland produces seminal fluid and surrounds the male urethra, through which urine is secreted. An inflamed or swollen prostate can hamper attempts to urinate as well as cause sexual dysfunction. Natural remedies may help reduce symptoms of inflamed prostate and provide preventive care for optimal health and function of the prostate.

Diet

1. Eat plenty of foods that contain powerful antioxidants such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit. Antioxidants are effective in protecting the prostate against damage caused by free radicals, which cause cell destruction. The Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois has researched lycopene, an antioxidant component of fruits and vegetables with red colors, and found evidence of reduced prostate inflammation, reduced size of prostate tumors and even some anti-cancer properties. Also eat plenty of fruits, as they contain fructose, which, according to the Department of Medicine of Harvard Medical School, promotes and stimulates vitamin D production in the body, which in turn slows and inhibits tumor growth.

Saw Palmetto

2. Take saw palmetto supplements to treat a variety of prostate disorders. Saw palmetto comes from a berry native to the southeastern U.S. Native Americans have traditionally used this herb for a variety of medical conditions. Saw palmetto may produce results in prostate enlargement in about four to six weeks. Follow instructions on packages or bottles of saw palmetto regarding dosage, which depends on the strength of the capsules you purchase. Cell Biology International in 2001 published results of a study by researchers at Boston BioProducts that found saw palmetto to inhibit cell growth of prostatic cancer cells in lab tests. More research will determine whether the effect works in human trials.

Pygeum

3. Take pygeum for relief of prostate disorders that cause swelling or inflammation. Pygeum comes from a tree bark native to Africa and is used to treat prostate enlargement because certain chemicals found in it inhibit DHT, a derivative of testosterone that promotes cell growth and enlargement of glands. Recommended doses of pygeum are approximately 50 to 100 milligrams taken twice a day for six to nine months for optimal prostate health and wellness. Writing in the May 15, 2008, issue of American Family Physician, Dr. Jonathan L. Edwards says that limited evidence suggests pygeum relieves symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Take pygeum as your health care practioner recommends

If you have been diagnosed with enlarged prostate or prostate cancer and want to cure it naturally please contact Dr Akilah El for a consultation. She has helped men all around the world regain their healthy prostate back. If you have any questions related to prostate health please feel free to call our office at 770-603-0141

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DISCLAIMER

Nothing stated here should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a health problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance for specific health problems. This blog is for informational, entertainment and educational purposes only, and is simply a collection of information in the public domain. Information conveyed herein is based on pharmacological and other records - both ancient and modern. No claims whatsoever can be made as to the specific benefits accruing from the use of any herb or nutrients.